Door mechanism for gondola cars



L. J. TILLMAN DOOR MECHANISM FOR GONDOLA QARS Jan. 9, 1951 2Sheets-Sheet Filed Oct. 12, 1945 Jan. 9, 1951 L. J. TILLMAN Y 2,537.:247

' DOOR MECHANISM FOR GONDOLA CARS Filed Oct. 12; 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented Jan. 9, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFMIE DOOR MECHANISM FORGONDOLA QARS Lambert J. Tillman, Toledo, Ohio Application October 12,1945, Serial No. 621,897

9 Claims. 1

My invention relates to railway freight cars and particularly to gondolacars having doors hinged to the car body in a manner requiring thattheir swinging movement from open position to closed or lading retainingposition be performed in opposition to the action of gravity incident tothe weight of the door.

In many gondola cars these hinged doors are large and cumbersome and thecombined strength of several men is usually required to raise one ofthem to its closed position from its open position. Should the menaccidentally lose control over the door While moving it toward closedposition the resultin sudden swinging movement of the door to openposition not infrequently causes serious injury to one or more of theworkmen.

The object of the invention is to provide an effective and compactmechanism, capable of practical application to a railway car, forimparting to a hinged car door whose swinging movement from openposition to closed position is opposed by the action of gravity, a forcegener- 'ated by the opening movement of the door which tends to move thedoor towards closed position. A principal feature of the inventionconsists in providing, in a railway car having hinged doors 'whoseswingin movement to closed position is opposed by the action of gravity,a plurality of torsion rods extending transversely of the door adjacentthe hinge axis thereof, a plurality of spaced brackets rigidly mountedon the door for respectively preventing rotation of one end of each ofsaid rods, and a plurality of spaced brackets rigidly mounted upon afixed part of the car for respectively securing the other ends of saidrods against rotation relative to the car body.

Another feature of the invention, generally stated, consists inproviding, in a railway gondola car having a hinged door whose hingeaxis is disposed below the car floor adjacent the car center sill andwhose swinging movement towards closed position is opposed by the actionof gravity, a plurality of torsion rods disposed below the flooradjacent the hinge axis of the door, a plurality of means carried bysaid door for respectively securing one end of each of said rods againstrotation with respect to said door, and spaced means fixed with respectto the car center sill for respectively preventing rotation of the otherend of each of said rods with respect to the car center sill.

A further feature of the invention consists in providing in a railwaygondola car havin a floor formed with a lading discharge opening whichis adapted to be closed by a hinged door whose hinge axis is disposedbelow the floor adjacent the center sill of the car and whose swingingmovement to closed position is opposed by the action of gravity, aplurality of spaced brackets rigidly secured to the door, a plurality ofbracket members rigidly attached to the center sill of the car andcooperating with the brackets secured to the door to constitute meansfor hingedly mounting the door on the car body, and torsion rod meansdisposed below the car floor adjacent the hinge axis of the door andhaving at one end a portion fixed against rotation relative to the doorand being provided at the other end with a portion fixed with respect tothe underframe of the car.

There are other features of the invention residing in relationships ofparts and advantageous details of construction, all as will hereinafterappear.

In the drawings, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention,the scope whereof is pointed out in the claims:

Figure 1 is a view partly in plan and partly in horizontal sectionillustrating the invention as embodied in a drop bottom gondola car, thedrop door being in closed position with a portion thereof adjacent thehinge axis broken away to clearly show the relationship of the torsionbars.

Figure 2 is a detail vertical sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figurel.

Figure 3 is a detail plan view of one corner of the hinged edge of thedoor shown in Figure 1,

a part of the door plate being broken away to disclose the underlyingstructure.

Figure 4 is a detail vertical section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional View taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

In the drawings, l indicates the side wall of a railway gondola car and2 is thecar floor. The floor is provided with suitable openings 3 forthe discharge of lading and is supported by the car spectively engagingthe outer ends of the door arms 8 secured to the under side of the door.

The hinged door 6, which advantageously may be formed as a corrugatedsteel plate, has its hinge axis disposed below the floor 2 adjacent thecenter sill 4. Rigidly mounted upon the under side of the door arespaced brackets 9 which afford means for hinging the door to the carbody, each of said brackets being preferably provided for that purposewith substantially parallel spaced jaws ill which form an open-endedslot or recess for receiving the neighboring hinge pin member ll. Attheir connected ends, the inner faces of the jaws Iii are curved toprovide a suitable bearing for the hinge pin.

Each of the I bracketS 9 is also formed with a polygonal, prefer= ablysquare, socket I2 for receiving the correspondingly shaped end I3 of oneof the torsion rods I4, to thereby hold one end of each torsionrod-against rotation with respect to the hinged door.

Rigidlysecured to the-center sill dare brackets I5 having spaced arms I6between which the jaws I O of the respectively adjacent brackets 9mounted on the door are received. These-arms I6. are

formed with open-ended polygonal recesses I! which provide jaws forengaging the-correspondingly shaped polygonal heads I8 of thehinge pinmembers II to prevent rotation thereof with respect to the brackets I5by which they are carried. Each hinge pin memberis provided at one endwithgapolygonal socket I9--for receiving the correspondingly shaped endI 3. ofone of the-torsion Toprovide means whereby the-hinge pin rods;-member-I I may be:-rotated prior to itsapplicationtoitheabracket I5, sothat the torsion: rod: I41

socketed. therein may be under initial torsionalstress when the partsare in assembled relation and ithe door is in closed position, the otherend of-therhinger-pin member-may also be provided with afpoly flmalsocket Zilto receive a suitable wrench-cor bar for imparting torsion tothe rod I 4 ,through the hingegpin member in which itjis socketed Thesocket-20 is preferably of the same form as the socket I9.

While the ..-construction is such that 'the' door isheldin hingedrelation: with the; car. by the weight of the door itse1f,; acotter-pinn2I or the like-:which extends through the-jaws IIlof-thebracketSxmay, if desired, bewemployed to lock thevhinged :edge-of thedoor; against any accidental upward movement. To protect thebracketszfiand -15 and the torsion rods It against pos siblerinjury when the door4-is.open and lading is being discharged from the car, the edge of the:

door adjacent its-,hingeaxis is preferably curved as indicated at 22,the centercfcurvature substantially corresponding to the hinge axis :of-;the door.

Theztorsion rods are disposed adjacent the hinged edge of the door andmay conveniently be of circular cross section except fortheirendportions I3, one of the square ends. I3. of each ,rod

being-positioned in the corresponding socket: I2

of one of the brackets 9 carriedbythe door and the othersquare endportion l3 of the same torsionrod being positioned in the socketl9formed in theadjacentend of the-hinge pin member I I.

rodsl l by causing-theends; thereof which are socketed inpthe bracketsv9 secured, to the. door tobe: twisted or: rotated,: with respect. to 1the ends of :th'BuIOdS which are held in 1fixed position by reason:oftheir; socketed: engagement'with the hinge pimmembers I I carried by thebrackets serves materially to.- decrease the force necessary tobeexerted-by workmen when, thedooris moved; to;- los d. p9ition-manual1y:;: nd in-..0rder.:to:. I'Gr i I5 rigidly mounted on thecar enter sill I. The: stress- .so imparted,to;thetorsion rods Il-thusduce as far as practicable the force required to move the doorfrom open position to closed position, while still enabling the door toopen fully under the influence of gravity, it is preferred that thetorsion rods I4 be of such strength and elasticity that'the force toclose the door which they exert as the result of the initial torsionalstress imparted to them and that additionally generated in themduringan'opening movement of the door shall together be only somewhat lessthan the force with which gravity opposes the swinging movement ofthedoor from open position towards closed position.

What I claim is:

1. A door mechanism for railway car hinged doors whose: swingingmovement from openposition towards closed position is opposed by theaction of gravity, saidmechanism comprisinga pluralityof torsion rodsextending transversely of the door adjacent its hinge axis, aplurality-of brackets rigidly mounted on the door adjacent said axis andspaced from each other, a corresponding-plurality of spaced bracketsrigidly secured to a fixed part of the car adjacent said axis,

each of said last named brackets having mounted thereon a pin member forforming a hinged connectionawith the adjacent bracket mounted onthedoor, each of said hingepins and the brackets upon' which they arerespectively mounted being provided with engaging portionspreventing'rotation of said pins relative to their respectivebrackets,said rods being provided at each end with aqpolygonal portion heldagainst rotation with'respect to one of said'brackets adjacent thereto,the saidbrackets which are mounted on the door each being provided withmeans for engaging oneof said polygonal portions to hold itagainstrotation, and each of said hinge pin I. members-being formed with a.portion for-cm. operating with-said polygonal portion .of one offsaid-rods to preventrotation of said portion of said rod with respect tosaid pin member.

2. A' door mechanism for railway car hinged,

doors whose-swingingmovement irom open pOSi-r tion. towards closedposition is-opposed-by the,v

action :of gravity; said-mechanism comprising a plurality of torsionrods extending transversely of.the dooradjacent its hinge axis, saidtorsion rods having their adjacent ends spaced from-each other. in adirection substantially normal to the hinge axis of the door and theirends being of polygonal cross section, a plurality of spaced.

brackets rigidly mounted on the door adjacent said axis andeach-provided with a polygonal recess'for receiving the adjacent end ofone of said rods, a plurality of spaced brackets rigidly secured to afixed'part of the car adjacent said axis, each.

of said last named brackets having mounted thereon a pin member forforming a hinged con-,. nection with the adjacent bracket mounted onthe'door each of said hinge pinmembers and the brackets upon which theyare respectively" mounted beingprovided with en aging portions whichcoact to prevent'rotation of said pin'members relative to theirrespective brackets, each of said hinge pin members being formed withasocket for receiving the poly onal end portion of one cream rods'tothereby prevent rotation of said endp-ortion with respect to saidpin-meme ber,.a-nd each of said brackets mounted on the door beingprovided with spaced jaws forming a;

recess for receiving said hinge pin member.

3. A; door mechanismior railway car hingeddoors ;wh ose swingingmovementfrom-open position tow losed: pos tion-. sopposed by the act of:

ravity, said mechanism comprising a plurality of torsion rods extendintransversely of the door adjacent its hinge axis and each having at itsopposite ends a polygonal portion, a plurality of spaced bracketsrigidly secured to a fixed part of the car adjacent said axis, aplurality of spaced brackets rigidly mounted on the door adjacent itshinged edge, each of said first named brackets being provided withspaced arms for receiving a portion of the adjacent bracket secured tothe door and being also provided with jaws forming an open-ended recessfor receiving the correspondingly adjacent end of a hinge pin member,hinge pin members which are respectively disposed in the recessesbetween the jaw of their respective brackets and each of which isprovided at one end with a socket for receivin the neighboring end ofone of said rods to prevent rotation of said end of the rod with respectto the hinge pin member, and each of the brackets which are mounted onthe door bein provided with means connected to the neighboring end ofone of said rods and with spaced jaws forming an openended recess forengaging said hinge pin memher.

4. Door mechanism for the hinged door of a railway car of the typehaving a floor provided with an opening for the discharge of lading andanunderframe supportin said floor including a center sill, saidmechanism comprising a plurality of torsion rods disposed below thefloor adjacent the hinge axis of the door, spaced brackets rigid withthe door adjacent the hinge axis thereof for respectively securing oneend of each rod against rotation with respect to the door, and spacedmeans adjacent the hinge axis of the door for respectively preventingrotation of the other end of each of said rods with respect to thecenter sill, said brackets being respectively hingedly mounted on saidspaced means.

5. Door mechanism for the hinged door of a railway gondola car of thetype having a floor provided with an opening for the discharge of ladinand an underframe for supporting said floor including a center sill,said mechanism comprising a plurality of brackets spaced from each otherand rigidly secured to the door, a plurality of torsion rods disposedbelow said floor adjacent the hinge axis of the door, said brackets andsaid rods being respectively provided with coacting means for securingone end of each rod against rotation with respect to the neighboringbracket, and spaced means adjacent the hinge axis of the door andrigidly connected to the center sill for respectively preventingrotation of the other end of each of said rods, said brackets beingrespectively hingedly connected to said spaced means.

6. Door mechanism for the hinged door of a railway gondola car of thetype having a floor provided with an opening for the discharge of ladingand an underframe for supporting said floor including a center sill,said mechanism comprising a plurality of brackets rigidly secured to thedoor in spaced relation to each other adjacent the hinged edge of thedoor, a plurality of bracket members rigidly secured to the center silland I spaced from each other adjacent said hinged edge, and torsion rodmeans disposed below said floor adjacent the hinge axis of the door andextending in the direction of length of the center sill, said torsionrod mean being provided at one end with a portion secured to saidbrackets against relative rotation with respect to the door and beingproat its opposite ends, a plurality of brackets rigidly secured to thedoor in spaced relation to each other and each provided with a socketfor receiving .the neighboring head of one of said rods, a plurality ofbrackets each rigidly secured to the center sill in spaced relation-toeach other and each provided with means engaging a hinge pin member toprevent rotation thereof, and a plurality of hinge pin membersrespectively carried by said last named brackets and each provided atone end with a socket for receiving the polygonal head of one of saidtorsion rods.

8. A door mechanism for a railway car hinged door whose swingingmovement from open position to closed position is opposed by the actionof gravity, said mechanism including a plurality of torsion rodsprovided with polygonal heads at their opposite ends, a plurality ofbrackets rigidly secured to the door adjacent its hinged edge in spacedrelation to each other and each provided with a socket for receiving apolygonal head of one of said rods, a plurality of spaced brackets eachrigidly secured to a fixed part of the car adjacent the hinged edge ofthe door and each provided with means engagin a hinge pin member toprevent rotation thereof, and a plurality of hinge pin members eachhaving at one end a socket for receiving and prevening rotation of oneof the heads of one of said torsion rods and each being formed at itsother end for cooperation with means whereby it may be rotated beforeassembly with its cooperating bracket to cause the rod socketed thereinto be under initial torsional stress when the parts are in assembledrelation and the door is in closed position.

9. A door mechanism for railway car hinged doors whose swinging movementfrom open position tolclosed position is opposed by the action ofgravity, said mechanism comprising a plurality of torsion rods extendingtransversely of the door adjacent its hinge axis, a pair of bracketsrigidly mounted on the door, and a pair of brackets rigidly secured to afixed part of the car and having hinge pins, said brackets secured tothe door respectively having portions straddling said hinge pins forhingedly connecting the door to the car, the opposite ends of each ofsaid torsion rods being respectively fixedly secured to one of saidbrackets on the door and to one of said brackets on the car.

LAMBERT J. TILLMAN.

REFERENCES CITED Theiollowing references are of record in the file'Of;thi$ patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 59,414 Knight Nov. 6, 1866199,383 Steinhofi Jan. 22, 1878 1,066,146 Priebe July 1, 1913 1,688,685Campbell Oct. 23, 1928

